The WW2 escape line that fooled the Nazis

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 12 February 2024

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1940 a daring rescue operation began to help Allied servicemen escape from Nazi-occupied France.

French resistance fighter Roland Lepers was among those who guided stranded Allied soldiers and airmen to neutral Spain during World War Two. The 1,000 km route became known as the Pat O’Leary Escape Line - or the Pat Line.

It’s estimated 7,000 Allied personnel escaped through this route and similar escape lines, thanks to a network of people who clothed, fed and hid them. Peter Janes was one of those British servicemen.

Roland’s daughter Christine and Peter’s son Keith, speak to Jane Wilkinson about their fathers’ adventures.

(Photo: German-controlled checkpoint in France, 1940. Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm John Ronson and I'm an invisible enemy.
0:05.0	That changed people psychologically.
0:08.0	Words can be dangerous if you don't know the context.
0:12.0	We were told to stay at home.
0:15.0	We lived with an invisible enemy,
0:17.0	with only the internet for company.
0:19.0	That changed people psychologically.
0:21.0	I'm John Ronson, and I'll be unerthing the roots of the culture
0:24.8	wars that engulfed us then and still do now.
0:28.8	The award-winning podcast, Things Fell Apart, Returns. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:39.0	Hello, welcome to the Witness History podcast from the BBC World Service with me Jane Wilkinson.
0:46.0	I'm taking you back to the early days of the Second World War and the start of a daring rescue operation to help Allied servicemen escape from Nazi
0:56.4	occupied France. It's a story of courage, treachery and patriotism.
1:02.3	I'm a vit d'ulet France. treachery and patriotism. I invite all French men who wish to remain free, to listen to me and to follow me.
1:11.2	That's General Charles de Gaulle speaking on the BBC in 1940.
1:17.0	The military leader is in exile in London following France's surrender to the German army.
1:23.0	Now he's calling for French men and women to join the organised resistance in England.
1:29.0	Long live free France, with honour and with independence.
1:36.0	Among those listening in France is Roland Lapeer.
1:39.8	He's just 18 and he's desperate to help. Here's his daughter Christine.
1:44.6	De Gaulle was talking to the French people and saying you must come over, the group in
1:52.0	England is getting bigger and bigger, the war is not
	...

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